Katie Boulter is aiming for a spot in the world’s top 10, hoping her success will inspire more female tennis coaches. The 27-year-old has climbed from outside the top 150 to a career-high ranking of 27 in under a year, with victories in Nottingham and San Diego.
Boulter’s journey has seen highs and lows, marked by injuries and challenges at lower levels of the sport. Now the clear British number one, she will be seeded for the first time at the French Open starting Sunday.
Reflecting on her ambitions, Boulter told the PA news agency, “When I was 150, I think it was actually tougher to be motivated. After Nottingham last year, I really don’t think I’ve ever been more hungry to succeed. I genuinely think I have a chance of being inside the top 10, so I struggle to be satisfied sitting at 27 in the world.”
Her triumph in San Diego, where she defeated five top-40 players to win her first WTA 500 title, underscores her potential. This victory coincided with her boyfriend Alex De Minaur’s ATP win in Acapulco, making it a memorable week for both.
A crucial element in Boulter’s rise has been her partnership with coach Biljana Veselinovic. Female coaches are rare in tennis, and Boulter’s San Diego final against Marta Kostyuk was notable as both players were coached by women.
“Having a female coach is something I’ve not really had before, besides my mum,” said Boulter. “It’s a very positive environment. She’s very caring, very motherly and sometimes in the tough moments that can really help you.”
Boulter sees Veselinovic as a role model, advocating for more women in coaching roles. “During Miami, Biljana had a female coach shadowing her, which was great to see,” she said. “They’re trying to push more women into those environments, which is awesome.”
A new challenge for Boulter this season has been adapting to clay courts. Despite her preference for grass and hard courts, she is committed to improving on clay. “I stayed as far away from it as possible because of my body,” she said, but during Covid, she dedicated time to getting comfortable on clay.
Her recent performances, including a quarter-final run at the WTA 125 tournament in Paris, show promise. “I think where my success has come from is finding different ways to win rather than just using the power that I have and that’s one of the biggest things on clay. I do really feel like I can play well on it. I’ve just got to be patient with myself.”
